Ikea powers up solar panels at Orlando store

By Katherine Boccaccio

Orlando, Fla. -- Ikea said Wednesday that it has officially plugged-in the solar energy system installed at its store in Orlando, Fla.

The 120,900-sq.-ft. PV array consists of a 967-kW system, built with 4,115 panels. The retailer said the program will produce approximately 1,421,500 kWh of clean electricity annually, the equivalent of reducing 1,080 tons of carbon dioxide, eliminating the emissions of 192 cars or powering 122 homes yearly.

Ikea owns and operates each of its solar PV energy systems atop its buildings – as opposed to a solar lease or power purchase agreement – and this Orlando installation represents the 18th completed solar energy project for Ikea in the United States, with 21 more locations underway, making the eventual U.S. solar presence of Ikea nearly 89% with a total generation of 38 MW.

For the development, design and installation of the Orlando store’s customized solar power system, Ikea contracted with REC Solar.